This paper explores the link between migration and developrneiit in the Sri Lankan context. It considers ways in which the social work profession could assist in changing the outcome of poorer families’ participation in contract labour migration. Basically, the paper argues that there are two major roles open to social work. One is to assist in changing the situation of distorted development, using methods which have been well explored in the literature and experimented with in the field; the other is to contribute to these families’ involvement in contract labour migration in ways which may well ensure that the migration-development relationship is rendered far more positive and beneficial than is currently the situation. © 1998 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

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